Friday, 29 January 2016

The Clarence in North Street is still looking much like it did 230 years ago when it was known as the New Inn. It is the only remaining example of the inns which once lined North Street. The frontage is of mathematical tiles, now painted. In 1811 it was extended westward over the coach entrance. The magistrates court was established here in 1808 and returned in 1821-23. In 1831 it was renamed in honour of William IV. It was Grade II listed in 1971 and closed as a hotel in 1972. In 1979 it re-opened as the headquarters of a building society.

It was restored c1990, when a Georgian Revival shop front was inserted on the left nicely balancing the coach entrance on the right. Unfortunately, this effect is vitiated by commercial festoons, and the elegant entrance, the architectural highlight of the building, is bisected and obscured by the siting of the bus-stop.

The coaching entrance provides a little used passageway to the Lanes and still retains some features of the coaching era. It is surely ripe for some improvements concurrently with the Hannington Lane development.

Postscript: A Listed Building Enforcement Notice was served. "Expiry date 30/12/2015. Ground Floor Retail Unit, Clarence House, 30 - 31 North Street, Brighton, BN1 1EB Brighton & Hove City Council1. Completely remove the 2no awnings attached to the front elevation of the building at ground floor level. 2. Remove all exterior fixings, hooks and battening from the front elevation and make good to match the existing listed building."

Friday, 22 January 2016

Following a year-long competitive dialogue between two bidders and specialist council officers, overseen by councillors from all parties, Crest Nicholson, in partnership with the Starr Trust, have been selected as the preferred bidders to redevelop Hove’s King Alfred Leisure Centre site.

The decision was made at the Policy and Resources committee meeting on 21 January 2016. Bouygues were the other contenders.

Subject to future design development, public consultation and planning permission, the scheme would include a modern new sports centre costing around £40m. This would be paid for by a development of 560 flats, and around £8m of council money. The flats would be in four main blocks, the highest of which would be 18 storeys, and 20% of them would be affordable

The sports centre would include a 25m eight-lane competition pool, a smaller teaching pool, and a leisure pool. Movable floors for changing depths in the competition and teaching pools are features included.

The sports hall would have space for eight badminton courts compared to five in the current centre. There will be a 120-station gym, plus 15 spinning bikes.

Also included would be a crèche, gymnastics centre, three-rink indoor bowls, dedicated martial arts dojo, quiet studio, sauna and a café.

Tuesday, 12 January 2016

This postcard from the early 20thC shows, in the bottom LH corner, an exposed sea-wall on the east of the West Pier. It is of similar design to that on the west side of the pier, a gap having been left between them to accommodate the already existing Pier. The build-up of shingle has presumably rendered them redundant, which is a good thing inasmuch as the i360 is now occupying the self-same gap.